KAZAN, Russia -- The first halal food-production facility has started operating in the Russian republic of Tatarstan, RFE/RL's Tatar-Bashkir Service reports.
Businessman Linar Yakupov, who started the Halal Industrial Park, told RFE/RL that his facility will produce 30 halal products, including meat, spices, cookies, flour, and other types of nonprocessed food made according to Islamic rules and regulations.
The Halal Industrial Park -- which opened on November 20 -- occupies four hectares of land and employs some 200 people.
Yakupov said he plans to expand the operation of his facility in the future. He said the idea for his plant was inspired by halal food production in Malaysia.
Yakupov said two foreign companies have expressed a willingness to take part in the expansion of his project in Tatarstan.
Some 20 million Muslims live in Russia and consumption of halal food has risen in the last several years in Russian regions predominantly inhabited by Muslims.
Read more in Tatar here
Businessman Linar Yakupov, who started the Halal Industrial Park, told RFE/RL that his facility will produce 30 halal products, including meat, spices, cookies, flour, and other types of nonprocessed food made according to Islamic rules and regulations.
The Halal Industrial Park -- which opened on November 20 -- occupies four hectares of land and employs some 200 people.
Yakupov said he plans to expand the operation of his facility in the future. He said the idea for his plant was inspired by halal food production in Malaysia.
Yakupov said two foreign companies have expressed a willingness to take part in the expansion of his project in Tatarstan.
Some 20 million Muslims live in Russia and consumption of halal food has risen in the last several years in Russian regions predominantly inhabited by Muslims.
Read more in Tatar here